For over 20 years, Clay Holden has been designing and producing award winning, progressive projects around the world for several well-known architects in Los Angeles and Chicago, including: Moore Ruble Yudell, Chu+Gooding, and Pugh+Scarpa. Clay has contributed design, technical expertise, and leadership on a variety of cultural, civic, campus, mixed-use, planning, transit, commercial, housing, residential, and exhibition design projects, including a number of international design competitions.
His interest in design and architecture evolved through his experiences with art and construction while growing up in the Midwest. Throughout his schooling he explored freedom of expression and innovative ways of designing. Clay also spent time learning specific construction trades. This combination has made him into a well-balanced designer who is always looking for creative ways to tackle design issues with an understanding of the fundamental basis of the profession.
Clay Holden received a Master of Architecture degree in 2000 from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in Los Angeles and Vico Morcote, Switzerland; and a Bachelor of Science of Design degree from Clemson University in 1995. He was awarded the SCI-Arc Vico Fellowship in 2002 to administer SCI-Arc’s European campus in Switzerland.
Clay is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, and has served as the Chairs of the AIA/LA Academic Outreach Committee and the 2x8 Exhibition Committee. In 2007 he was awarded with the inaugural AIA/LA Associate of the Year Award. Clay is also a frequent guest critic at several architecture and design schools in Southern California. Clay is a Licensed Architect in the State of California and a LEED® Accredited Professional.